Does It Matter Why We Try? How Goal-focused Extrinsic Emotion Regulation Influences Co-Worker's Relational Outcomes 

Presented by Hannah Kunst, University of Sydney Business School

Understanding how employees regulate each other’s emotions (known as ‘extrinsic emotion regulation’; EER) is crucial for fostering positive workplace dynamics. To date, research in this area has focused on how employees regulate other’s emotions at work, with some evidence showing that specific strategies (such as reappraisal and social sharing) lead to positive work outcomes. Much less is known about why employees regulate other’s emotions at work – what drives the selection of specific strategies - and whether these underlying goals influence employee relational outcomes in turn. To examine the underlying goals that drive EER at work, this research investigates the influence EER goals have on EER strategy selection amongst co-workers, and the impact this has on co-worker conflict and trust. Findings of two empirical studies will be presented (an experimental design with N = 398; and a co-worker dyadic design with N = 553). Results indicate that pro-hedonic goals (i.e., wanting the other to feel better) are related to encouraging co-workers to talk about their problems (i.e. receptive listening). On the other hand, instrumental goals (i.e., wanting to keep up appearances at work) are related to suppression of the other’s emotions. The presentation will outline how these goals indirectly influence trust and relationship conflict in turn. The results of these studies have important practical implications for promoting high-quality interactions between colleagues, as well as interventions for building positive workplace cultures and emotion regulation norms within organisations.

Dr Hannah Kunst is a Lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour in the discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School. Hannah’s research focuses on emotions, well-being and emotion regulation of others at work. She is passionate about translational research and bridging the gap between research and practice. Hannah is the Deputy Director of the Body, Heart and Mind in Business Research Group, an associate fellow of Advance HE, and a member of the Australian Compassion Council.